June 11, 2012 - 2:31 PM
SUNDRE, Alta. - Fishing guides and local residents fear a pipeline leak into the Red Deer River could do long-term damage to one of Alberta's premier sport-fishing destinations.
Garry Pierce of Tailwater Drifters says he's already had European clients contact him, concerned over news that up to 475,000 of oil has been released into the river.
Pipeline owner Plains Midstream says high water has flushed most of it into a downstream reservoir.
But Kelsey Kure, who lives right on an affected stretch of the river, says oil is pooling along the riverbank, where insects are currently hatching.
Both he and Pierce say that could harm a food supply that fish depend on.
They also fear oil is likely to foul the gravel along the river bottom that trout use to spawn.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012